The 16-member team will begin the study on Monday. The research, which will use unclassified data, will lead to a report that will be made available to the public next year.

Potentially, observers in plenty of star systems could have detected Earth sometime in the last 5,000 years. More stars will soon move into positions that would let them see our planet.

“The Predator” is slashing its way back into theaters this fall. Arnold Schwarzenegger won’t be making a special appearance, but Shane Black, a...